Chapter 15 Dorian
Dorian
Istifle a groan, resisting the urge to snatch Levi’s ridiculous notebook away from him and toss him, and it, out the window.
Levi flips another page, making a point of scratching his fingernails across the paper to irritate the fuck out of me.
I still haven't figured out how the fuck he ended up in my car. One moment, I was walking through the parking garage, keys in hand, ready to head home after a long day’s work. The next thing I know, my brother was sliding into the passenger seat.
Fuck. He used the excuse of running through the potential wives list. I only humored him because I didn’t feel like arguing.
He flashes me a smile. In the moonlight, he appears more menacing, and I can see I’m not going to get rid of him until he gets what he came for—information.
He and Locke had been trying to get me to talk about Elodie all damn day. Knox just watched me, observing in that uncanny way more suited to me.
As expected, they all wanted to know how Elodie was doing. That was understandable. It would have looked bad if they didn’t ask.
Levi and Locke, however, cut straight to the heart, pointing out all the things Knox had last night. How I left an important meeting and got my hands dirty to save her. How unlike me that was. How she must be something special.
I’d ignored them. But Knox’s incessant glances through the day grated on my nerves.
I didn’t tell anybody I made Elodie an offer, but I bet he knew I would.
I can’t think straight. I haven’t been able to since yesterday when I laid out my offer to the damsel in distress I’m still waiting to hear from.
Not even Parker could get under my skin today. And, my God, did he try. He was lucky my mind was elsewhere.
The fact that another whole day has passed without Elodie getting back to me says a lot. Not that she isn’t desperate. I don’t believe that for one second. I have first-hand knowledge of exactly how desperate she is.
If this were purely about desperation, she would have given me an answer the moment the offer left my lips.
My innocent little lamb is being strategic and taking her sweet time to think about what she’s getting herself into. Can’t blame her. At least she has the good sense not to make a deal with the devil without thinking about it first.
I can just imagine her worrying over what her life would be like with me.
Even I know she deserves better.
The part that got her was where I openly declared that I won’t love her. I would have sounded like an asshole to many. I saw it as a mercy. One that gives her no expectations from me and saves her the hassle of fretting over our future.
It showed her the mercy my father never had when he married my mother. Then again, I do believe my mother loved him. Knox thinks she loved our father’s money. I agree, but I saw in her more than most. She loved my father. She just didn’t love her kids.
At least I’ve been able to assure Elodie I’d love our children.
Jesus Christ, listen to me.
Fucking hell. How the hell did I get to this point?
And Elodie? Fuck, what can of worms did I open by making my offer? It was a terrible idea, but I still did it anyway. And I want her to say yes. Not for her. For me.
The debt makes her the best pick for me.
When you’re indebted to someone, they own you.
Outside of that, Elodie Harper and I have an unspoken understanding.
I don’t even know what it is specifically, but she gets me.
She gets me enough to know if she accepts my offer, our lives won’t be the bed of roses she imagined for herself.
And that’s why she might say no. If I were a good person, I’d tell her to do just that. Better to owe the devil than belong to him.
"I crossed off Kaylee," Levi says, his voice cutting into my thoughts. He taps his pen against the notebook and leans forward to stare at me. "She’s too quiet for you. Let’s face it; you'd eat her alive. Unless you think you may change for the right woman."
Motherfucker.
“Are you even listening?” Levi raises his voice.
I cut him a hard stare. “Do I look like I’m listening?”
“No.”
I speed up when we reach the highway, and I try to figure out how I’m going to get rid of him. I could pull off on the next exit and leave him standing in the dark on the side of the road.
I did that before while we were vacationing in the Caribbean. He’d pissed me off so badly I knew I’d kick the crap out of him if I stayed around him any longer. While it was satisfying to teach his ass a lesson, the backlash that followed from our father hadn’t been worth it.
If I were to do that now with Dad so mad at me, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.
"You seemed to like the Fontaine girl. I thought she had potential." Levi keeps his gaze on me. "She had a great ass and a perfect pair of tits. Perfect for you. But I suppose things are different now.”
“What makes you think that?” Better to play his game.
“Elodie Harper."
My jaw tightens. Here we go. “What about her?”
“Oh, please. I don’t think we have to go over the obvious. My question is, why don’t you ask her?”
Way ahead of you, little brother. But I’m still not telling him.
“Ask her what?” I feign innocence with a believable sigh.
“You know what. Okay, so I think she’s far too…” He winces like he’s trying to find better words, something different from the truth.
“Too good for me,” I offer, keeping my expression blank.
“Yes. But I mean good as in good.”
“I know what you mean. And you’re right.”
“So, what do you think?” He sits straighter, reminding me of an Irish wolfhound.
“I think… you need to stop asking me shit you know damn well I’m not going to answer.”
He hisses at me and shakes his head. “You’re a real hardass, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told, lil bro. So I’ve been told.” I grin, and he holds up his notebook, flipping the page again.
“Vanessa Nell; she’s another good one.” He starts reading her credentials. It’s clear he thinks he’s going to rile me up, but it won’t work tonight.
As soon as he starts speaking, my mind goes right back to Elodie. Trees blur past us as I take the exit toward the estate.
Moments later, the wrought iron gates to my home come into view, swinging open as we approach. The road narrows into a canopy of oaks, and I guide the car up the long drive.
Moonlight slices through the branches in sharp lines of silver. It feels heavier tonight. Or maybe that’s just me. I have too much on my mind.
Levi’s about to say something when we both spot a woman sitting on the top step of my porch.
Not just any woman. Elodie.
With her legs drawn beneath her, hair loose around her shoulders, and hands folded in her lap, she looks like the damsel again. And it looks like she’s been there for a while.
“Well, look at that,” Levi says with a smile in his voice.
I don’t look at him. My eyes are on her, and she can see me, too.
My foot eases off the gas, and the car slows. I park the car and watch her for a moment, wondering which way this will go.
I cut the engine and sense Levi building toward one of his insufferable observations. I refuse to let him have it.
"Get out," I say.
He frowns, mouth open. "Dorian—"
"Take the car." I toss the keys to him. They land in his lap on top of the notebook. "Go home, Levi."
“I should at least say hi.”
“That won’t be necessary. Go home. Now.”
“Fine. Do give my regards.” The smile he gives me suggests he’s satisfied for now, but he no longer has my attention.
I open the door and step out into the cold. Behind me, Levi starts up the car, and the headlights sweep across the front of the house as he reverses down the drive. I wait until he’s on his way before I move toward the woman sitting on my steps.
The damp night air stirs around me as I get closer.
She stands, the motion so quick it’s obvious she's been rehearsing this moment, maybe running through it in her head while she sat here waiting for me.
One dainty hand smooths the front of her coat before she allows both to fall to her sides.
She looks better than she did yesterday. The bruising and swelling have gone down substantially, but she still looks like she’s barely hanging on. And I can tell she’s overly nervous.
“Hi.” A small smile drifts across her lips. When she steps forward, the porch light catches the hollow of her throat.
"You're here." I stop and look her up and down.
She pushes her hair back, and her eyes become more open. "I wanted to talk to you. About the offer.”
Hmmm. She has my number. If she were going to turn me down, she would have done so over the phone. She wouldn’t be here to talk.
"Why didn’t you wait inside the house?" One of my staff would have let her in.
She lifts her shoulders into a gentle shrug. “I preferred to stay out here and wait. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything you had planned with Levi.” She waves a hand toward the drive.
“No. What did you want to talk about?”
“Just a few things. Of course, that’s if the offer is still on the table.” As she holds my gaze, a sliver of desperation peeks through, sparking my hopes.
“It is.” I keep my tone measured.
The tension in her expression loosens. “Oh. Good.”
“Come on in.” I wave a hand toward the door.
She follows me, falling in step at my side, and I catch a hint of vanilla in her scent.
I lead her inside, then we continue through the foyer. Elodie takes in the walls, the ceiling, the dark wood paneling, and I can't tell if she's impressed or unsettled. It’s probably a bit of both.
The house is its usual quiet at this hour. Albert should be the only member of staff left around. He likes to check in with me before he heads home.
We enter the living room. I take off my jacket and toss it over the arm chair.
"Sit." I gesture toward the sofa.
She does, crossing one ankle over the other, drawing my gaze to her legs. She’s wearing a skirt beneath her coat that stops mid-thigh.
Tearing my gaze away, I move toward the drinks cabinet.